How to Easily Turn Unwanted Gift Cards Into Cash

Not too many Christmases ago, all-purpose, prepaid holiday gift cards were the ultimate holiday present that could do no wrong in the hands of its recipient. Today, our attitudes have changed somewhat. So what can you do with unwanted gift cards? There are a number of online destinations to find your gift cards a new home, buy reduced cards to replace them and give a present to that special someone in your life: your savings account.

Cards for Savings Account Cash -- The Where and How

Don't feel badly about unloading your gift cards. If you don't want yours, someone else will. If it means making some green from it, all the better to purchase a gift (or another gift card) of something you really like. Several "gift card marketplaces" that sell gift cards are worth checking out.

Gift Card Granny. A database listing the best gift card auctions and sales available on other websites, like eBay (EBAY) or ABC Gift Cards. While it's not a direct point of sale, it's a great destination for collecting all of the most recent gift cards up for grabs that you might have overlooked, or been unaware of. The site's layout is very good, listing each card, its original value, selling price, and seller. For gift card buyers, this is a great resource for discounted gift cards, too.

Cardpool. Cardpool is a good buyer's marketplace, but also gives choice to gift card sellers, too. If you're worried about getting only a fraction for what your gift card is worth, have no fear -- according to Cardpool, sellers can obtain up to 92 percent of their card's original value. Cardpool also accommodates gift card bulk sales of $5,000 or more.

Cardcash. Cardcash does what its name says -- the website will turn around your gift cards into cash, eliminating the need to place it up for sale on the web. Cardcash is impressively fast and resourceful, and will issue a high reimbursement rate for your gift card within 24 hours, through either check, PayPal or direct deposit.

Be a Savvy Gift Card Seller

Walmart (WMT) and Cardcash are testing a site where consumers can exchange unwanted gift cards for Walmart gift cards. "The site went live on Christmas day and is offering up to 97 percent of the value of the original gift card from over 200 different retailers, " Techcrunch reported.

There are also sites like Swapagift.com, with offline locations where you can trade in your gift card for cash, in person.

Pam Goodfellow of Forbes cited a study from the National Retail Federation, which reported that gift card sales have experienced a resurgence since 2012. Store bought gift card sales, according to the report, were up 25 percent in 2012 from the previous year. If you successfully auction or sell your gift cards, you can use the cash to buy a gift card for another store -- often at a discount. For instance, Gift Card Granny lists a $25 iTunes gift card auctioning for $10.54 -- a 57.84 percent discount.

When you buy and sell gift cards, treat them like any other item of value. If you've received an unwanted gift card or certificate, check store terms before selling it -- you may be able to redeem yours for cash, in store. Be patient for good prices in the post-holiday season. Take advantage of them -- but don't take them at face value.